The Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority warns that questionable contractors with an eye toward tapping homeowners insurance move in after the wind and water of a natural disaster recede.

Typically, they go door to door, offering new siding or a new roof at no cost to the homeowner, even offering to kick back the deductible, which is illegal, said Ralph Burnham, executive director of the authority, which was created by the state Legislature to combat insurance fraud.

In worst cases, contractors have intentionally damaged homes in storm-hit areas before the insurance adjuster makes it to the scene.

"The insurance represents the big pile of money that they are after," Mr. Burnham said. "There is a large potential for dishonest contractors to take advantage of this situation." They take advantage of the chaos, damages and high demand for contractor services after a disaster.

Typically the scam artists are from out of town or out of state. They offer something too good to be true combined with a high-pressure sales pitch. Those who succumb usually find incomplete work, shoddy materials and jacked-up costs submitted to the insurance company. In worst-case scenarios, the unscrupulous contractor fails to pay suppliers, who can put a mechanics lien on the home in an effort to collect. Unsuspecting homeowners usually discover the lien if they go to sell or refinance their property.

Homeowners should know a contractor they hire to do work, either directly or indirectly through friends or references, Mr. Burnham said. Ideally, the contractor should be locally based and provide a written estimate. All contractors are supposed to be registered with the state. However, there have been cases where scam artists have worked under an in-state contractor's license.

"It's early, and usually it takes time for people to figure out something isn't right," he said.

The authority offers consumers information about home improvement fraud at www.helpstopfraud.org.

Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

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